Gospel and Saint of the day: 4 January 2020

First letter of St. John the apostle 3,7-10.
Children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices justice is just as he is right.
Whoever commits sin comes from the devil, because the devil is a sinner from the beginning. Now the Son of God has appeared to destroy the works of the devil.
Anyone born of God does not commit sin, because a divine germ dwells in him, and cannot sin because he was born of God.
From this we distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil: whoever does not practice justice is not from God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Psalms 98 (97), 1.7-8.9.
Sing a new song to the Lord,
because he has performed wonders.
His right hand gave him victory
and his holy arm.

The sea quivers and what it contains,
the world and its inhabitants.
Rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains rejoice together.

Rejoice before the Lord who comes,
who comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice
and peoples with righteousness.

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 1,35: 42-XNUMX.
At that time, John was still there with two of his disciples
and, fixing his gaze on Jesus who was passing by, said: «Here is the lamb of God!».
And the two disciples, hearing him speak like this, followed Jesus.
Then Jesus turned and, seeing that they were following him, said: «What are you looking for?». They replied: "Rabbi (which means teacher), where do you live?"
He said to them, "Come and see." So they went and saw where he lived and that day they stopped by him; it was about four in the afternoon.
One of the two who had heard John's words and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
He first met his brother Simon, and said to him: "We have found the Messiah (which means Christ)"
and led him to Jesus. Jesus, fixing his gaze on him, said: «You are Simon, the son of John; you will be called Cephas (which means Peter) ».

04 JANUARY

BLESSED ANGELA FROM FOLIGNO

Foligno, 1248 - 4 January 1309

After going to Assisi and having mystical experiences, she began an intense apostolic activity to help others and especially her fellow citizens affected by leprosy. Once her husband and children died, she gave all her possessions to the poor and entered the Franciscan Third Order: from that moment she lived in a Christocentric way, that is, through love she reaches the same mysticism with Christ. For her very deep writings she was called "teacher of theology". On April 3, 1701, own Mass and Office were granted in honor of the Blessed. Finally, on 9 October 2013, Pope Francis, accepting the report of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, enrolled Angela da Foligno in the catalog of Saints, extending the liturgical cult to the Universal Church. (Avvenire)

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED ANGELA FROM FOLIGNO '

by Pope John Paul II

Blessed Angela of Foligno!
The Lord has accomplished great wonders in you. We today, with a grateful soul, contemplate and adore the arcane mystery of divine mercy, which has guided you on the way of the Cross to the heights of heroism and holiness. Enlightened by the preaching of the Word, purified by the Sacrament of Penance, you have become a shining example of evangelical virtues, a wise teacher of Christian discernment, a sure guide in the path of perfection. You have known the sadness of sin, you have experienced the "perfect joy" of God's forgiveness. Christ addressed you with the sweet titles of "daughter of peace" and "daughter of divine wisdom". Blessed Angela! we trust in your intercession, we invoke your help, so that the conversion of those who, in your footsteps, abandon sin and open themselves to divine grace, are sincere and persevering. Support those who intend to follow you on the path of fidelity to Christ crucified in the families and religious communities of this city and of the entire region. Make young people feel you close, guide them to discover their vocation, so that their life opens up to joy and love.
Support those who, tired and disheartened, walk with difficulty between physical and spiritual pains. Be a bright model of evangelical femininity for every woman: for virgins and brides, for mothers and widows. The light of Christ, which shone in your difficult existence, also shines on their daily path. Finally, implore peace for all of us and for the whole world. Obtain for the Church, engaged in the new evangelization, the gift of numerous apostles, of holy priestly and religious vocations. For the diocesan community of Foligno he implores the grace of indomitable faith, active hope and ardent charity, because, following the indications of the recent Synod, you advance quickly on the path of holiness, announcing and witnessing relentlessly the perennial novelty of the Gospel. Blessed Angela, pray for us!